Paul McCloskey Confident: "I Know I Can Beat Amir Khan"

By Mark Vester

European light welterweight champion Paul McCloskey (22-0, 12KOs) is feeling pretty good about his chances to defeat WBA junior welterweight title-holder Amir Khan (24-1, 17KOs). The two are in talks to possibly fight on April 16 at the MEN Arena in Manchester. During a recent appearance on BBC Radio, Khan said his frontrunner opponent, Lamont Peterson, had priced himself out by asking for a "huge number."

McCloskey, at number five, is actually ranked higher than Peterson in the WBA's top ten. He hopes a deal can be reached in the next 24 to 48 hours.

“I’m very hopeful now that the fight can be made. It’s a fight I have wanted for some time and I have earned the right to fight Khan the traditional way by winning the British and European titles and I’m unbeaten. I think the next 24 to 48 hours are going to be very exciting, we should hopefully know if the fight will happen. It would be a great fight for the public and I know that I can beat him,” McCloskey said to the Belfast Telegraph.